Court Finds Veteran Not Guilty of Federal Crime for Displaying American Flags

Judicial Watch today announced that a California U.S. District Court has ruled that 75-year-old veteran Robert Rosebrock is not guilty of violating federal law for displaying two four by six inch American Flags above a Veterans Affairs (VA) fence on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016. The rulings were handed down in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (United States of America v. Robert L. Rosebrock, (CC11, 4920201; 4920202; 6593951).

Rosebrock had been charged with desecrating the VA grounds by hanging the displaying the two napkin-sized American Flags on a section of the fence adjacent to the Great Lawn Gate at the entrance to the Veterans Park. Rosebrock attorneys pointed out that in the past the grounds had been repeatedly used for such events as bike races, running marathons, and Halloween Parties.

Rosebrock (below), 75, and fellow veterans, have been assembling at the site nearly every Sunday and Memorial Day since March 9, 2008, to protest what they believe is the VA’s failure to make full use of the valuable West Los Angeles property for the benefit and care of veterans, particularly homeless veterans.

Judicial Watch attorney Sterling E. Norris, a former Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, and Los Angeles-based defense attorney Robert Patrick Sticht are representing Rosebrock, who faced up to six months’ imprisonment if found guilty on the flag-hanging charge.

“Now that the court has rightly dismissed the government’s outrageous flag-displaying charge against Mr. Rosebrock, we hope that he and his fellow patriots will be allowed to honor the flag and commemorate their fellow veterans as they deem appropriate,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “We are pleased that Judicial Watch was able to step forward successfully to help Mr. Rosebrock.”